Capsule filling machine



Feb. 22, 1938. s. J. SPECKHART ET A1.

CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Filed July 2l, 1937 5 SheeS-Sheet l MQE "lesa-l im l -I-IIIIIII.. i .IIIIILEIf 1 Ouv n nu om o@ INVENTORS RuDoLPf-l HERGER STEPHEN J. SPECK R1 BY L m L- ATTORNEYS lFell 22, 1938. s. .1.` sPVEcKHART ET Al. 2,108,906

CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1957 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS RUDOLPH HERGER STEPHEN .JT SPECKHART ATTORN EYS Feb. 22, v`,1938. s, 1 'SPECKHART ET AL 2,108,905 y CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Filed July 2l, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Feb 22, 1938- s.'.J. sPEcKHART ET AL 2,108,906

CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Filed July 2l, 1937 5 SheetS-Sheet 4 NGN INVENTORS RuDoL PH HERGER STEPHEN J.' SPECKHART BY ATTORNEYS www Feb. 22, 1938.

Egg. 13.

s. .1. sPEcKHART ET Al. 2,108,906

CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Filed July 21, 19:57

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 N f INVENTORS RUDOLPH HERGER n STEYPHEN J. SPECKH RT ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Stephen J. Speckhart, Maplewood, and Rudolph Herger, Irvington, N. J.

Application July 21, 1937, Serial No. 154,744

l14 claims.

It is an object of our invention to construct a capsule lling machine which is completely automatic in its operations and functions, from the step where an empty capsule is presented to the machine, to the step where said capsule is closed with a predetermined amount of selected substance therein.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel hopper and chute construction whereby capsules which have been promiscuously charged into the hopper, are guided into a chute structure which they leave in a definite positionfor presentation to a receiving conveyor.

It 'is a further object of our invention to pro- Vide means for automatically separating the two portions which comprise a capsule, so that the same are in condition to receive the powder, drug or whatever ingredient it is desired to put into the capsule.

A further object of our invention is the provision of means for accurately controlling the amount of powder, drug or ingredient that goes into the capsule.

After the capsule has received the powder, drug or desired ingredient, it is a further object of our invention to cap together the separated p ortions of the capsule with the substance contained therein, so that it is ready for commercial packing and distribution.

All of the above named objects and functio are accomplished automatically by means of our invention, a preferred embodiment of which is herein shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the complete machine 4taken in the direction of arrows I-I in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of Fig. 1, taken inthe ydirection of arrows 2-2 in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken through the plane 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section, of the chute, the conveyor and the capsule separating means.

Fig. 5 is a side view taken through the plane 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a planrview of a conveyor iiight and its associated diel in the direction of arrows 6-6 in Fig. '7, showing its association with contiguous nights and dies.

Fig. '7 is a front elevational view taken in the direction of arrows I--l in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational View taken in the direction of arrows 8-8 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to that of Fig. 8, except that. the dies are`cammed to a position out of alignment.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken through the plane III-I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 10; said view illustrating the position of separated capsules therein.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the lower die taken along the plane I 2-I 2 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged front elevational view of my machine, showing the table and the powder hopper.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the cam housing for capping together ,theseparated portions of the capsule.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken through the plane I -I 5 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view ion adjusting mechanism.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken through the plane I'I--I'I of Fig. 14.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken through the plane I8-I8 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is an elevational View partly in section, of the capsule hopper.

Fig. 20 is-a sectional view of the hopper taken through the plane 20-20 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is an elevational view of the hopper showing the chute constructions associated therewith.

In carrying out our invention it is our problem to take conventional empty capsules (shown in Fig. 20), separate the individual portions of these capsules, insert medicinal powdei` or ingredient therein, in a predetermined amount, and then bring together the two individual portions of the capsule. These functions must all be done automatically, and we accomplish the same by means of our machine, which as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,.comprises a frame structure I, for supporting a table I IIII.4

The table |00, isprov'ided with guide supports for an endless conveyor A. The conveyor is driven by sprocket wheels 2 and 3, said wheels being supported by shafts 20 and I9 in the respective hangers I6 and I1. An electric motor 4, through a conventional gear and Worm drive 5, drives the pulley 6. The pulley 6 is associated with the pulley 8 by means of a drive belt 'I. The pulley 8 is adapted to drive the pulley I 8 by means of the drive belt 9. The pulley I8 is fixed to the shaft I9 and the latter in turn is fixed to 'the sprocket wheel 3, so as to provide a direct and continuous drive for the endless conveyor A. The puley 8 is mounted on a shaft which has as-` of rack and pinsociated with it the bevel gears I3, I4 for driving the shaft I6. The shaft I6 by means of bevel gears v H, l2, -drives the substantially vertical ing mechanism F brings the separated portions of the iilled capsules together as unitary members.

As shown in Figs. 3 and `6, the endless conveyor A consists of a. series of associated flights, comprising upper members 35 and lower members 2| (Figs. 8 and 9). As shown in Figs. 6 to 9, the upper portion 35 of. the flight has attached along one of its edges a die member 36. Threaded f bolts 36 and 31 attach die member 3l to the upper flight member 35.k As shown in Fig. 6, the upper ilight member 35 is substantially triangular in shape, has an open frame work, and also has pivoted at its apex a miler 46. 'I'he ends of the flight member 35 have downwardly extending ears 36, 39 which are recessed so vas to ride upon the pins 22, 23 of the lower night member 2|. i As shown'in Figs. 8 and 9, this constructional arrangement permits the upper iiight member 35 to move transversely of the lower ilight member 2|, and ofv the path of travel of the endless conveyor A. The lower ilight member 2l on the other hand has the abutments 6I and 4| to which are fixedly attached the crosspins 22, 23. 'I'he one side of the lower iiight member 2| is cut away so as to provide a seat 32 for a lower die member 29. The die member 29 is iixedly attached to-the lower flight member 2| by means of threaded bolts 63 and 34 (Fig. 12).

As shown in Fig. 6, the right-hand end o! the vlower flight member 2| has a lug 24, whereas the left-hand end of said ilight member 2| has a pair of ears 25 and 26. Adjacent ilghts are similarly constructed so that corresponding lugs and ears are in direct alignment. As indicated by the dotted line construction oi Figs. 6 and 7, these lugs and ears are apertured to receive a connecting pin, such as 42. In this way, adjacent ights are interconnected into an endless chain construction. The connecting pins 42 have-attached at their outer ends, a pair` of' rollers 21 and 26. These rollers are adapted toride in channel guide member 91 and 96 respectively, said channel guide members being mounted upon a horizont-al table |60, as clearly shown in Figs. 5, 15, and

In the sectional views of Figs. 10 and 11, it will be seen that the lower and upper dies 29 and 36 are adapted in one position to be in direct alignment. The upper die 66, in this particular instance, comprises twenty-four through openings, indicated by the numerals 46 and 44. 'I'hese openings have a shoulder at their lower ends as indicated by the numerals 41 and 46. The lower guide 29 has 'a corresponding number of through openings 49 "and 50, which are of the same diameter as the openings in die 36, from the shoulders 41 and 46 down. Furthermore, in the lower die 29 complete longitudinal cuts 45 and 46 are made through the die so as to pass through all of the openings of the lower die. These longitudinal cuts are indicated in dottd lines by numerals 45 and 46 in Fig. 12. It should be noted that these cuts extend from the bottom of the die 29 upwardly and stop at the -plane indicated by the characters 5|, 52. The construction of the dies 26 and 36 having the seats 41 and 46 is obviously made to permit separation of the two portions a and b of the capsules. The portions a seat upon the shoulders 41 and 46 when the portions b are pulled away from the portions a.

Figs. 19, 20, and 21 show the particular construction of the hopper whereby the capsules alter having been promiscuously charged therein are constrained to be fed. therefrom one by one in a denite direction. cated generally in Fig. 1 by B), is cylindrical in shape, open at its top, and has a fiat bottom 54. Mounted in the bottom of hopper for rotation, is a tapered disc 55. As noted in Fig. 19, this disc is thicker at its center where it is mounted upon the shaft 12, than at its outer circumference. The outer periphery of this disc 55 is stepped or grooved so as to receive the capsules therein, as shown in Figs. 19 and 20. Mounted above the tapered disc 55 is an annular ring 66. This ring 66 is adjustable by means of the supporting rods 56, which are threaded at their upper end and may be adjusted to such a position that the distance between the lower inner edge of the ring 66 and the adjacent upper surface of the disc 5571s Just a little more than the width of the capsule being used. Thus, capsules lighting upon the rotary disc 55 will be permitted to slide beneath the annular ring 66, to the outer circumference of the disc 55 into the groove 56. This bar 66 prevents jamming up of the capsules in that space directly adjacent the grooveA 56. It larger capsules are to be used, then obviously the annular bar 66 would have to be raised to permit passage of said capsules therebeneath.

Assume that the receptacle 53 is promiscuously filled with capsules and that the rotary disc 55 is being driven by the shaft I5, through the universal connection 51 and the shaft 12 which is mounted by means of a ball bearing 1|. As the disc 55 is rotating, the capsules have a tendency, due to centrifugal force and the inclination of the disc 55, to work themselves to the edge of said disc beneath the annular .ring 6|!l and into the groove 56.

The hopper 53 (indi- Provision is made to remove the capsules which drop into the groove 56. The construction for such removal is indicated in Figs. 20 and 2l. On opposite sides of the receptacle 53, are located housings 63 and 64 for the skids and chutes 65, 69 and 66, 16 respectively. In Fig. 20, assuming that the disc 55 is rotating in the direction of the an'ows shown, the capsules located in the groove 56 will be carnmed `out of the groove Vinto the housings 63, 64 by the biased plates 6|, r62. It will be noted in Fig. 20 that no matter what the position oi' the capsule is in its groove 56, it will have a tendency to swing about on the skids 65 or 66, so that the head of the capsule which is wider, will always swing downwardly, head iirst, as indicated in Fig. 20. The capsules` ride on guides 61 and 66 head first, and as shown in Fig. 21, they slide oil' the skid 65, engaging the end wall of the housing 66. Said capsules pivot around their headed end and then slide down the chute 69, their narrower end first. The same operation takes place in the housing 64, the capsules therein being fed narrow end rst down the spout 16. The two spouts 69 and 10 converge ltowardfealeh other to a positiongdirectly above Y i threaded end of a bolt or stud, said boltl or stud the upper dies 30; of the top flights of the 'conveyor A `as shown in Figs. 1, .4, and'5.

In.Fig. 1, as theflights of the conveyor leave 'the sprocket wheel 2, Athe diesassociatedtherewith are empty, and mofve beneath the spouts .SS and'10. This latter position is shown infFig. l5, and it willbe noted that at" this time, the

lower dief29'and the upper `die 30 arein'direct alignment and that the f openings of said Adies automatically receive capsules from the spouts v69 l and 10. l

l .It will benoted fromFigs. tand 5, thatva'housing 13 is constructed so as toencompass'the space in the lower die which has just received a capsule. This housing 13 has a wall l92 which extends up into lthe rgrooves 45 and r`49. vThe opposite wall of the vhousing v13 is shaped at'03,'to flll the space between capsules leaving the rsuction chamber 13, but'at thesame timepermit'` capsules .vto'pass out of chamber 13. vT'he housing'll is thus completely sealed with respect :to the lowerr'diei29 Y and the capsules contained therein. Asshown in. Fig. l, a housing 131is inl-actuality a reservoir in which is maintained -a vacuum. Thisvacuum is derivedA by means of la conventionalvacuum pump andassembly, generally indicated by the numeral 15. Arpipe .connection '14 is associated with the vacuum pump .assembly 15 and the vacuum reservoir 13. v`Itwill be obviousthat as lcapsules drop from the spout 99 into the dies 30,29. of Fig. 4, the lower .portion of .the'capsule b is pulled away'from the upper portion :a of the capsule, by means of the suction contained within the container 13 acting upon the lower portion b of the capsule. 'The upper'portions a of the capsules are `prevented from being drawn down through the recessed dies 30 byrmeans of their location` upon the seats 41, 40, as indicated in`iFigs. 10 and ll. .To prevent thelower Vpor tions b, of the capsules from being .drawn down rinto the vacuumV chamber 13an adjustable .supporting rod 19 hasta portion l19 extending into the chamber 13. -A slot"19 inthe housing 13-per mits the'bary 19 to Abe adjusted vertically in ysaid housing. A plate 0| seals the slot19, randis adapted to ride in the guides Il. This sealing prevents the entrance of atmospherical pressure into the chamber 13 through the slot 19. It will be noted that the top .of Yplate -0| (Fig. .5) is shaped to fit the contour of the "bottom of the capsules. Note that the lpositionv of the vbar 19 will determine the distance that the' lower Vportion b, of the capsule, is `separated fromithe upper portion a of the capsule. This regulation of the separation ofthe portions of thel capsules will determine the amount of the powderior `other vsubstance which goes into the capsula-.as will hereafter be made clear.

The adjustment of this bar 19. 191is'brought about by means of mechanism indicatedbroadly by the characterD, in Fig. '1, and shown .more l specifically in Figs. 13, 15,fandl6. From these figures it will be seen that thelbottom'of the table |00 has a `housing91. "I'his'housing181 is slotted at 89 toreceive .a reciprocatingrack`89. This rack 89 hasdownwardly facing teeth as shown in Fig. 16. The upper portion of the rack 89 is attached by rivets or any other fastening means to a second horizontal rack 9|. This-second rack has inwardly facing Vhorizontal teeth as shown in Fig. 16. Rackv 9| engageswith gears 93, 94, and 95. Horizontal reciprocation of the rack 9| will rotate these various gears 93.194,*and 95. As shown in Fig. l5, the lgear 94 engages the rthe capsules. '.iFig. 118 prevents the portions a ofthe ycapsules lmeans of the nuts ||4, '||5.

being attached to the adjusting `bar A19. The

fgears;r 93, zand 95 kare similarly associated with the 4"bar n18. kwith the resultthat upon actuationof thefrack 9|,va1l yof the Agears r93, i94,fk and `are rrotated andthe adjusting V'bar 18 is lifted or lowered unlformly'as'desired. The rackff9| is actuatedxbymeans of the rotation of a hand-Wheel *92 -which .inl turn rotatesv apinionl, which is finengagement with the rack 99. Reciprocation lfofy the lrack A89 results in a reciprocation of .the .rack y9|.

lAfter the capsules emerge vwith the dies from dies'remains as they passby the` hopper y99. The

lower portion of vthe-hopper `v99 is in direct en- "gagement with the upper surface of the lower f die 29, as indicated bythe reference character .|04 in Fig.. 15. The result is that the substance inehopper |9`feeds into the openings of the lower die f29, as the latter passes thereunder. The hoppe'f99 is supported by astandard |0|. When la" lower `*die has passed'the powder hoppenthe upper'flight 35 engages .a second overhanging cam |01 (Fig. 3). This 'second'cam |01 moves the upper flight 35 transversely, so that the two dies 29 and 30 are again brought into kdirect alignment.' With the dies in this position, it is apparent that the openings and the lower portions b ofthe capsules inthe lower die '29 .are filled with the powdered substance, whereas the upperportion a of `the capsules are `emptypand located directly'thereabove. I

The next obvious function is to push the lower portions b with the powdered substance into enrgagement with their ycorresponding upper portions a,'so as toform completed capsules. This latter function is obtainedby means of the structure which we have designated generally-by the character F, in Fig. 1.` As shown inFigs. 14, 1'1, -and18,as the capsules ride along the adjustment bar 1I, they enter an overhanging housing |00. 'Beneath thehousing|0l is a cammingsurface |09. As'shown in Fig. .17, lthe surface 09 has two upstanding portions iiland whichpro- ,f

ject'into-the'longitudinal spaces `4B'and46 of the lower die 29. Consequently, as the lower portionszb of the capsules ride on the. inclined surfaces i |0, I ||,they are vgradually lifted upwardly, .and the upperends of the `portions of the capsules bare-forced intothe'head portions a of Theoverhanging surface |08 of from moving upwardly when the portions bare r'forced into the portions*v a. vProvision is made for adjustingthe camming surface |09 bothvertically and longitudinally. Threaded members for supporting the camming surface |09 areactuated by theserrated' knobs H6. ||1. When adetermined vertical adjustment yis'made for the camf.

ming member |09, such adjustment is fixed by 1 Provision isalso made for a longitudinal adjustment of the vcamming member |09 by means of slots |2fand I3 in the surface of thetable |00. It is thus apy flights of the conveyor A then go into theflower` l have now been invertedr with theihead c of the capsules facing downwardly, they will drop by s receive empty capsules. From that point on, the f parent that as the capsules emerge from the housing |08, the portions a and bv have vbecome assembled and enclose the desired amount ofA powder substancetherein. .f f As the flights of theconveyor A pass the hous-y ing F and engagey about the sprocket 3, the

horizontalr run of the conveyor. Since the dies gravity from out. of their dies. An appropriate vessel Vcanv bel provided to catch the -capsules which have thus been removed. Upon a removal of all of the assembled capsules from their dies, the empty dies followabout the sprocket wheel y2, and again approach the spouts 69 and 10, to

operation is repeated. y

From the above it will be apparent that we have provided mechanism wherein empty capsules are fed tov the diesI of a continuouslyzmovs Vingfconveyor; arsuction means is then provided Y to separate theupperandlower portions of thev i capsules.,l Special provision is made toy control the elevation of the lower portion ofthe cap-v sule so as to regulate the amount of i powder sub- 4 stance which will be fed therein. A We then Aprovide a. powder hopper, whereby the powder substance fills the lower portions ofthe capsules as the dies'pass the powder hopper. Provision is then made to bring theupper and lower. portions f of the capsulestogether, Aforcing one .into the other, so that a' completelyassembled capsule, withmaterial therein-isfeffected. It is apparent Valso,v th`at these various functions ,are accomplished by `our machine in a manner which is f y completely automatic, andl requires no manual operation whatever, other than'` the supply of empty capsules to receptacle B, and the supply of powdered. substance to the hopper E.-

lVarious changes can be made over the exact s construction of? our preferred embodiment, without `departing from the spirit of .fthe invention,

the scope of which is covered by the' following `claims z i We claim:

1. `In a capsule filling machine, the combina-l tion ofl a power driven conveyor; comprising a series of lower flight members being intercon'- nected into an endless chain, each lower lflight member having positioned thereon an upper flight member whichl is adapted to be moved trans-l versely thereof, an upper die attached to the upper flight member'and a lower die attached to the lower flight member, said dies being normally in superimposed alignment, a receptacle for promiscuously receiving empty assembled capsules and segregating them into columns whereby `they may be fed to the superimposed dies `of `the endlessconveyonmeansl for separating the -two portions of the assembled capsules when in the dies, a hopper for feedinga-powdered s substance into thelower separatedportions of the capsules, andmeansr for lifting the'illled lower portions ofthe capsules into engagement with the eorrespondingupper .portions .of the capsules so as to effect complete capsules having predetermined amounts of powdered substance v therein.

2. In a capsule filling "machinefthe combina;

tion of a power driven conveyor comprising a series of lower flight members` being interconnected into an endless chain, each lower flight member having positioned thereon an upper flight; memberwhich is adapted toibe moved transversely thereof, an upper die attached to the upper flightfmember and a.lower.die attached to the lower flight member,.said dies being normally in superimposedl alignment, a rep ceptacle for promiscuously receiving empty assembled capsules and segregating them into'col- Aumns `wherebythey may befed to the superimposed dies of the ,endless conveyor, means for separating the two portions of the assembled capsulesl within the diesmeans-for moving the upper die transversely ofthe lower die vso as to present the lower die with.Y its separated capsule portion unobstructed by the upper die, a hopper in engagementwiththe upper surface, of the lower `die for-feeding powdered material therein s as the conveyorpasses thereunder, means subsequently bringing the upper and lower dies into direct alignment, and means for lifting the .illled lower portions of the. capsules into engagement With the correspondingl ,Y upper portions of the capsules so yas to effect complete capsules having predetermined amounts of powdered substance therein.V i f 3. In a capsule filling machine, thel combination ofva power driven conveyor comprising a seriesV of lower flight members beingintercon-l nected into an endless chain, each ylower flight member having positioned` thereon an upper `flight, member ywhich is adaptedv tobe `moved transversely thereof,an upper dieattached to the upper yflight member and `a lower dieats tached to the lower flight member, said dies being normally in superimposed alignment, said upper die being adapted to be moved transversely of the lower die yand having seats ytherein for the upper port/ion of the capsules, means for removing the lower portions of the capsules from'I the upper portions asthe latter rest upon their seats in the superimposed `dies, means for positively moving the upper die with its upper portions of the capsules transversely ofthe lower die, means for feeding a substance into the lowerdie Vand its associated capsule portions, means-for positively-moving the upper die into alignment over the lower die, and'means for liftingthey filled lower portions ofthe capsules'into engagement ywith the corresponding upper portions ofthe longitudinal edge of the upper flight member so that in a normall positionof said flight members thedies arer in direct alignmentfwhereas when the upper flight memberis moved transversely to the lowerflight member said dies are out of alignment.y

5.,Con veyor flights for acapsulewlling Yma-v chine, comprising a lower `flight member having linkage yconnections at yits ends, a lower die connected to a longitudinaledge of said lower flight member, an upper flight v member positioned above the lower flight memberand having means associating it with the vlower flight member Vwhereby it may move transversely with `respect to the latter, said upper flight member being substantially triangular in shape andhaving a roller at its apex, and an upper die connected to a lon'- gitudinal edge of the upper night member so that in a normal position of said night members the dies are in direct alignment, whereas when the upper night member is moved transversely to the lower night member said dies are out of alignment.

6. In a device of the character described the combination of conveyor nights for a capsule nlling machine, comprising a lower night member having linkage connections at its ends, a lower die connected to a longitudinal edge of said lower night member, an upper night member positioned above the lower night member and having means associating it with the lower night member whereby it may move transversely with respect to the latter, said upper night member being substantially triangular in shape and having a roller at its apex, and upper die connected to a longitudinal edge of an upper night member so that in a normal position of said night members the dies are in direct alignment, whereas when the upper night member is moved transversely to the lower night member said dies are out of alignment, and a cam engaging the roller on the upper night member for moving the latter transversely. A

'7. Conveyor flights for a capsule nlling machine, comprising upper and lower night members, having dies attached to one of their corresponding longitudinal edges so that the dies are normally in direct alignment, the upper die having a seriesV of apertured seats to receive and retain the upper portions of capsules, the lower die having a corresponding series of apertures for the reception oi lower portions off capsules, the series of apertures in the lower die having a longitudinal cut extending therethrough.

8. Conveyor nights for a capsule nlling machine. comprising a lower flight member and an upper night member adapted to be moved transversely of the lower night-member, a pair of dies attached to corresponding longitudinal edges of the night `members so that the dies are normally in direct alignmentbut when the upper night member is moved transversely to the lower night member said dies are out of alignment, the upper die containing a series of apertures which have seats adjacent their ends so as to receive and retain the upper portions of capsules, the lower die having an analogous number of apertures which are normally in alignment with the apertures of the upper die, the apertures of the lower die having a longitudinal cut extended therethrough.

9. In a capsule filling machine, the combina-- tion of an endless power driven conveyor having upper and lower normally aligned dies forv the reception of capsules, thev upper die supporting upper portions of capsules, an adjustable bar positioned beneath the lower die so as to support they lower portions of the capsules within the lswer die when they are separated from their upper portions and means for adjusting the bar so as to vary the distance of separation between the upper and lower portions of the capsules.

l0. In a capsule nlling machine, the combination of an endless power driven conveyor having upper and lower normally aligned dies for the reception of capsules, the lower die having a longitudinal cut extended therethrough, a suction chamber positioned directly beneath thel lower die and having a portion oi said chamber extending into the longitudinal cut for sealing engagement therewith, an adjustable bar extending into the suction chamber and positioned beneath the lower die so as to support the lower portions of the capsules therein when they are separated from their upper portions of the upper die, means for adjusting said bar including rack and pinion mechanism.

ll. In a capsule nlling machine, the combination of an endless power driven conveyor having upper and lower norxnallyv aligned dies for the reception of capsules, the lower die having al longitudinal cut extended therethrough, a suction chamber positioned directly beneath the lower die and having a portion of said chamber extending into the longitudinal cut for sealing engagement therewith. one side of said chamber having a slot to receive an adjustable bar extending into the suction chamber and being positioned beneath the lower die, and means to seal the suction reservoir at the entrance of the bar through the slot against the atmosphere, said bar supporting the lower portions of the capsules within the lower die when they are separated from their upper portions of the capsules within the upper die, means for adjusting said bar including rack and pinion mechanism.

l2. In a. device of the character described the combination of conveyor nights for a capsule nlling machine supporting upper and lower normally aligned dies. the lower die having a longitudinal cut extended therethrough, the wide head portions of capsules being supported in the upper die and the narrower lower portions of the capsules being separately supported in the lower die, an inclined cam having a portion thereof extending into the longitudinal cut of the lower die so as to lift the lojwer portions of the capsules upwardly into the head portions ofthe capsules as the dies pass .over the cam.

13. In a device of the character described the combination of conveyor nights for a capsule nlling machine supporting upper and lower normally aligned dies, the vlower die having a longitudinal cut extended therethrough, the head porof the capsules as the,- dies pass over the cam,

and means for adjustln the camming means both longitudinally and vert ally.

14. A power driven conveyor for a capsule filling machine comprising a series of lower night members being interconnected into an endless chain, each lower night member having positioned thereon an upper night member which is adapted to be moved transversely thereof. an up- 'per die attached to the upper night member and a lower die attached tothe lower night member, the upper die being aprtured and seated to support the upper portions of capsules, the lower die being apertured to receive the lower portions of capsules, an adjustable substantially horizontal bar extending approximately the full length of the conveyor, said barA being positioned directly below the lower dies to act as a guide ,support for the lower capsule portions, and means for varying the distance of the bar from fthe lower dies so as to control the distance of separationk of the upper and lower portions of the capsules within their dies.

' STEPHEN J. SPECKHART.

lRUDOLPH HERGER. 

